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When you think of the Summer Olympics, you probably think of gymnastics, diving, and the fashion each country chooses to wear at the opening ceremony. You probably don’t think of the gayest event of the year, but you’d be wrong.
Not only will there be countless queer athletes competing this year (146, we counted!), but today’s Opening Ceremony also saw LGBTQ+ athletes play prominent roles, queer icons make surprise performances, and drag queens strut their stuff.
If you haven’t followed the Olympics before, this is the year to tune in and become a passionate fan, because there are so many open-minded athletes to root for.
Drag queens carried the torch
Nikki Doll, star of France’s RuPaul’s Drag Race and host for three seasons, made history when she passed the famous Olympic torch at the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony alongside fellow drag queens Minima Geste and Miss Martini.
According to Out, Nicki wowed audiences with an intense runway performance alongside Drag Race Season 1 winner Paloma, Season 3 queen Piche and Legendary star Gisele Palmer.
Mother Monster appears
After weeks of speculation, gay icon Lady Gaga surprised fans by performing at the opening ceremony. Dressed in black and surrounded by dancers holding giant pink feather fans, Gaga performed Rene Jeanmaire’s “Mon Truc en Plume” and a piano piece.
“I am incredibly grateful to have been asked this year to sing the opening theme for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” she wrote on Instagram, “and also honoured to have been asked by the Olympic organising committee to sing a special French song celebrating the French people and their incredible history of art, music and theatre.”
Tom Daley waving the Union Jack
Gay Olympic diver and Thirst Trap champion Tom Daley had the great honor of carrying the British flag during the Pride of Nations opening ceremony, but Daley wasn’t the only one to enjoy the honor.
As reported by Out Sports, four other LGBTQ+ athletes also represented their countries as flag bearers, including boxer Nesty Petecio (Philippines), sprinter Michelle Lee Ahe (Trinidad and Tobago), Olympic gold medalist in the triple jump Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela), and boxer Cindy Gambang, who represents the Refugee Olympic Team.
Wicked stars want to see Shacarie Richardson
Co-stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo arrived in Paris for the opening ceremony dressed in pink and green to match their Wicked characters, with Grande telling reporters she was excited to watch Simon Biles compete (who wouldn’t?), while Erivo said she was looking forward to rooting for bisexual track and field star Sha’Carey Richardson.
There are a lot of queer athletes competing!
With each Olympic Games, more and more LGBTQ+ athletes compete, and this year the numbers are in triple digits: there are now more than 145 queer athletes competing from around the world.
